Games Done Quick (GDQ) has canceled a planned speedrunning showcase celebrating the 30th anniversary of SNK's Metal Slug series, citing backlash from its community regarding the game publisher's majority ownership by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). The decision came shortly after Summer Games Done Quick concluded its latest event, which successfully raised over $2.4 million for Doctors Without Borders.
The partnership announcement was met with immediate and widespread criticism on social media. Many users pointed out the conflict between GDQ's support for the queer community and Saudi Arabia's human rights record, which includes the persecution of LGBTQ individuals and documented abuses such as the exploitation of migrant workers and the jailing of political dissidents. Concerns were also raised that the PIF, an extension of the Saudi Arabian government, was responsible for past actions that harmed organizations like Doctors Without Borders.
In response to the growing backlash, GDQ issued a statement on Bluesky announcing the cancellation of the SNK stream. "We will not accept the funds from this sponsorship or continue to work with this sponsor again," the organization stated. "GDQ is committed to supporting human rights and inclusivity, and we recognize that this partnership conflicted with those values."
GDQ acknowledged a failure in its review process, stating, "We failed to conduct the level of review our community should expect from us and that was an oversight we deeply regret and take full responsibility for."
The Saudi Arabian government, through its PIF, has significantly increased its investment in the video game industry in recent years. The PIF's portfolio includes substantial stakes in major companies like Capcom, Nexon, Embracer, and Nintendo, and it has pursued large acquisitions, including mobile game publisher Scopely and Pokémon Go developer Niantic. The PIF has also made considerable inroads into esports, acquiring organizer ESL and taking full control of the Evolution Championship Series (Evo).
While the Saudi government frames these investments as economic diversification, critics argue that they serve as a form of "sportswashing," aiming to improve the country's international image by associating it with popular entertainment and sports, thereby distracting from human rights concerns. The swift cancellation of the SNK collaboration suggests that GDQ's community remains highly sensitive to such associations.